1835.] Report on the Island of Socotra. 1 45 



grain which is cultivated on any part of the island is called dekhan ; 

 this is preferred to any other, because it requires less attendance, 

 and if watered, will produce a crop at any season : provided there is 

 water in its vicinity, they do not appear to be at all solicitous as to the 

 quality of the soil, or the spots they select to serve as fields. They mere- 

 ly remove the loose stones, and with them build up a well, to prevent the 

 inroads of the cattle ; the soil is then somewhat loosened with a pointed 

 6tick, (for they have no articles of husbandry,) and after being divided by 

 low narrow embankments into small squares, the seed is thrown on them 

 much in the same way as it is in England. In the absence of rain these 

 squares are filled with water twice a day, until the grain has nearly attain- 

 ed its full growth, when once is considered sufficient. It is now tied in 

 the upper part into portions about the size of sheaves, in which state it is 

 allowed to remain until it is ripened and is cut down. When milk is 

 abundant, and they can obtain dates, dekhan is rarely partaken of ; but 

 when the supply of these is but scanty, it forms the chief article of their 

 food. It adds not a little to the value which they place on this grain> that 

 they are enabled to keep it uninjured for a long period. No dekhan is 

 grown on the west end of the island ; but on the east the enclosures in some 

 of the valleys are very numerous. It is however to their date groves, next 

 to their flocks, that the inhabitants look for their principal means of sup- 

 port. With the exception of a small one at Colesseah, and another on the 

 west side of the granite peaks, these are also confined to the eastern por- 

 tion of the island. Here the borders of the numerous streams which in- 

 tersect it are lined for miles with them: the foliage is somewhat more scanty 

 than that of those of Arabia, but I observe no other peculiarity in the 

 tree. Some are fecundated at the latter end of December, and others as 

 late as the early part of March ; they must therefore secure to themselves 

 a supply of fresh dates for two months. Those which are cultivated 

 amongst the granite peaks produce the first crop. There are however 

 some groves on the sandy belt at the southern side of this island, which I 

 have been repeatedly assured bear two crops during the year; the one in 

 May, after the N. E., and another in October, after the S. W. monsoon ; 

 the fruit is not held in much estimation. From the other groves, though 

 a large quantity is collected, yet it is not sufficient for the consumption of 

 the inhabitants, and a considerable supply is annually drawn from Muscat. 

 In all the other valleys which may have contained water, or through 

 which water may have passed, there are an astonishing number of Nibet 

 trees (Lotus nebea, well known in Egypt and Syria) ; the fruit is about the 

 size of a cherry, of rather a pleasant flavour, and is produced at all seasons. 

 The Bedouins collect it, and after bruising the berry between two stones 

 until it forms a paste, they mix with it a little ghee, and devour the whole 

 with much relish. Their camels are exceedingly fond of the young branches 

 of this tree, and from its bark the Bedouins extract a tan for their hides. 

 The tamarind occurs frequently among the hills ; as well as the wild fig ; 

 from the fruit of the former the natives decoct a cooling and refreshing 



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